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Opinions on "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock" DVD from Allied Artists Classics?

post #1 of 15
1/31/04 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
I found a DVD of the Preston Sturges-Harold Lloyd comedy, "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock" on Amazon.com, but I'm wondering how the quality is...



This is a REALLY funny movie and I'd love to get the DVD... but I'm worried that it's a typical public domain Madacy quality DVD.

Any opinions on the disc are greatly welcomed.
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post #2 of 15
2/1/04 at 12:26am
What's the price?

Anything in the 9 dollar and under range and I'd be highly suspicious.
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post #3 of 15
2/1/04 at 10:36am
Thread Starter 
It's $17.99 on Amazon.com.

Gotham Distribution has a disc for 6 dollars, but one review for THAT disc mentions that it's straight from VHS.

I'm HOPING that for $17, that AAC would at least offer something along the lines of a Roan type disc.
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post #4 of 15
2/1/04 at 7:33pm
This company that calls itself Allied Artists is in no way whatsoever affiliated with the long-time independent movie company that perished in the '70's. Their assets were folded into Lorimar, which was bought by Warner Bros.

This company is engaged in PD squatting, just like Brentwood, Madacy, and Alpha. They are betting that WB won't want to spend the money suing them for co-opting a trademark that legally belongs to them. Ditto for the movies they handle. It's just fortuitous that some of these movies were in fact old Allied Artists releases that have not had legit issue -- MITCHELL, THE NEXT MAN, etc.

So basically, buyer beware!
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post #5 of 15
2/2/04 at 2:58pm
Yeah, Harold Diddlebock is if I'm not mistaken a PD title, so expect the worst for your $17.99.
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post #6 of 15
2/3/04 at 8:12am
If Harold Diddlebock is PD, I wonder why Criterion doesn't grab it. Good elements do exist -- I saw an excellent 35mm print at the Film Forum during their last Sturges retro.

Ted
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post #7 of 15
2/3/04 at 8:24am
$4.99 from Alpha, but no idea what the print looks like.
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post #8 of 15
2/3/04 at 9:24am
You can get the Alpha DVD for $3.60 at DVD Empire. At that price, it might be worth the risk.
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post #9 of 15
2/3/04 at 3:16pm
Criterion probably doesn't grab it because doing their transfer from good elements (which they'd have to pay for) would immediately be duplicated by Alpha, etc. and it would be tough to recoup the investment.
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post #10 of 15
2/3/04 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Criterion probably doesn't grab it because doing their transfer from good elements

Perhaps, but they have done plenty of "from prime elements" transfers for public domain films.

My Man Godfrey, Charade, Diabolique, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps, The Naked Kiss, Carnival of Souls, and the W.C. Fields short films are just a few they've done.

I doubt they have a lot to worry about... after all, not even Universal could match the quality of Criterion's transfer for Charade.
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post #11 of 15
2/3/04 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 


Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Here's my idea for a Criterion cover for the film.
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post #12 of 15
2/4/04 at 7:50am
And Carnival of Souls and WC Fields, and possibly others, were immediately ripped off. I didn't mean to imply though that there was no chance they'd do it; just that there are powerful disincentives, especially for a picture that's not very well regarded (unlike Lady Vanishes, My Man Godfrey, etc.)
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post #13 of 15
2/4/04 at 3:12pm
Sorry to hear this is not a true Allied Artists company, as I've been praying for a decent 2.35:1 DVD of BILLY BUDD ever since the format emerged.
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post #14 of 15
9/8/07 at 10:53am

Re: Opinions on "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock" DVD from Allied Artists Classics?

I see a new TSoHD is listed at Amazon...in addition to discs from Alpha, Good Times and "Allied Artists". Is "Synergy Entertainment" just another squatter?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sin-Of-Har...9273402&sr=1-4

While I'm posting, which of the above three is preferable.
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post #15 of 15
12/24/07 at 8:50am

Re: Opinions on "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock" DVD from Allied Artists Classics?

Synergy did a decent jo with Dibblebock. Not a great print buy certainly watchable.
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